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Dogs Trust shares ongoing struggles of COVID-19
A still from the video advert which encourages people to seek help if they can no longer care for their pet.

Heart-breaking recordings reveal the pain of owners having to give up their dog in lockdown.

Dogs Trust has released heart-breaking recordings of real phone calls from owners having to give up their dogs because of COVID-19.

The recordings form part of the charity's Change the Tale campaign, which encourages owners to seek help if they are struggling to care for their dog in the fallout from the pandemic. 

It comes as figures released by Dogs Trust show there has been a 41 per cent rise in web traffic to its 'Giving up your Dog' page over the last six months. 

In one recording, a woman shares the pain of giving up her dog having lost her job and home. Other callers cite the burden of house evictions, increased working hours and financial difficulties.

Dogs Trust is sharing the recordings via radio and video adverts (see below) highlighting the ongoing struggles of the pandemic. The adverts encourage people to Change the Tale for dogs affected by COVID-19 and seek help if they can no longer care for their pet.

Dogs Trust chief executive, Owen Sharp, commented: “We know that the pandemic and its economic repercussions will have devastating effects on some people’s lives and their ability to care for their pets.

"When people take on the responsibilities of dog ownership, they do so with the best intentions to care for them long-term. But as the calls to Dogs Trust show, in these extraordinary times, circumstances can change in a heartbeat, leaving owners with incredibly tough decisions to make."

Dogs Trust provides support for owners without a home and offers a unique fostering service for owners experiencing domestic abuse. It has produced online videos helping owners tackle behaviours resulting from lockdown, such as separation anxiety. 

The charity also offers the Canine Care Card, which guarantees that if an owner passes away or becomes unwell, their dog will be cared for by Dogs Trust.

Mr Sharp added: “It is heart-breaking to hear someone having to choose between a roof over their head or their dog, and we’d like to thank the people who made these calls for allowing us to share their story and for coming to us in their time of need.

"Unfortunately, we believe the worst is yet to come and we expect many more calls like this as the pandemic fallout continues - and we will do all we can to help those in need of our support.”

If you or someone you know are struggling and need advice on giving up your dog, or if you would like to donate to Dogs Trust, visit dogstrust.org.uk

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.